Cardiac Rehabilitation in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease / 한양의대학술지

ABSTRACT

Cardiovascular diseases including ischemic heart disease have been emerging as one of the most important public health problems in Korea. Although secondary prevention and rehabilitation are essential components in the management of patients with ischemic heart disease, its program has not been provided to all the patients. There are several barriers, such as availability and accessibility, low awareness of both patients and physicians in implementing cardiac rehabilitation program. Home-based and community-based programs under the direction of medical supervision are needed to further widen its availability and accessibility, as well as hospital-based programs. Cardiac rehabilitation programs emphasize risk factor control and life style change, besides exercise training. Health education, diet, counseling, psychosocial support, and exercise are all important in restoring the patient's quality of life. For this purpose, cardiac rehabilitation should be well integrated with preventive cardiology, and a multidisciplinary approach is mandatory. Since Korean society is very rapidly aging, a big impact on future trend of ischemic heart disease, preventive cardiology and cardiac rehabilitation will play a very important role to overcome the approaching wave of cardiovascular epidemic.